Sunday, December 25, 2016

Leona (Childs) Stookey, daughter of John S. and Catherine F. (Brown) Childs, was born in 1856. She married Lewis Stookey on 11 Sept. 1879. She died 7 Feb 1921 and is buried in Harristown Cemetery, in Harrisontown, Macon County, Illinois.

Census records of Lewis and Leona (Childs) Stookey:

12
June 1880, Illini, Macon Co., IL:

116-120

Stookey,
Lewis W M 31 Farmer b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

----Leona
W F 24 Wife Keeping house b. IL fb. NJ mb. IL

Gilkeson,
Robert W M 23 Laborer Works on farm b. IL fb. Ire mb. VA

8
June 1900, Harristown, Macon Co., IL:

62-65

Stookey,
Louis Head W M Oct 1848 51 M-20 b. IL fb. IL mb. IL farmer

----Leona
Wife W F Feb 1856 44 M-20 3-2 b. IL fb. NJ mb. IL

----Marshall
Son W F Oct 1881 18 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

----Hellen
Dau W F June 1883 17 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

----Daniel
Father W M Mar 1820 80 Wd b. IL fb. OH mb. IL

Musser
Rose Servant W F Aug 1875 24 S b. IL fb PA mb. PA

Wilt
Elmor Servant W M Aug 1879 20 S b. PA fb. PA mb. PA

2
May 1910, Harristown, Macon Co., IL:

143

Stookey,
Lewis Head M W 61 m-1 30 b. IL fb. IL mb. IL farmer

----Leona
C. Wife F W 54 M-1 30 3-2 b. IL fb. NJ mb. IL

----Marshall
C. Son M W 28 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

19-20
Jan 1920, Harristown, Macon Co., IL:

141-143

Stookey,
Lewis head M W 71 M b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

----Leona
C. wife F W 63 M b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

142-144

Stookey,
Marshall C head M W 38 M b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

----Milderd
J wife F W 29 M b. KS fb. IL mb. IL

----Mary
E dau F W 3 3/12 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

Obituary of Leona (Childs) Stookey:

Mrs.
Lewis Stookey died in a hospital in Milwaukee, Wis. Monday afternoon of an
illness extending over a period of several months. She went to the Milwaukee
hospital for treatment three weeks ago. The body will be brought to Decatur
this evening and be taken to the family home in Harristown. Leona Childs,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Childs was born near Warrensburg and was educated
in the public schools of Decatur, being graduated from Decatur high school in
1876, as valedictorian of her class. Some of the older persons yet remember
that particular class because all of the young women were attired in calico
dresses. The inherent ability which won her the place of honor in her class as
ever active and during all of her life she was a student, fond of literary
pursuits and music. She was long president of Summit Culture Club,Harristown
and organist in the Harristown Methodist church of which she was a member. In
recent years Mrs. Stookey had given much time to Red Cross work and had
traveled a great deal.

The
surviving members of her family are her husband, Louis Stokey, and two
children,Marshal C. Stookey of Harristown and Mrs. Nathan Wilkinson of
Milwaukee. Her brothers and sisters are Dr.Charles Childs, LaPlace, John Childs
and Misses Edna and Harriet Childs of Los Angeles, Cal., and Mrs.Howard Batchelder of Colorado. [Source: Decatur Herald; Decatur, IL; 8 Feb 1921]

Obituary of Lewis Stookey:Lewis
Stookey, formerly a resident of Decatur and Harristown died in his home in San
Diego,Cal, Wednesday after an illness of about one week.

Born
at Millstadt in St.Clair county, Oct.20, 1848, Mr.Stookey moved to Bloomington
with his parents when a small child. From there he came to Decatur,moving to
Harristown in 1864.

He
attended Normal university and Bloomington grade schools. He was a student of
Decatur high school and at one time attended school in Alton.

On
Sept 11, in 1879 he married Leona Childs who preceded him in death, Feb. 7,
1921. The couple resided on a farm in Illini township until 1893.

Mr. Stookey
leaves two children, Marshall C.Stookey of Harristown and Helen Wilkerson of
Wisconsin. Another child Annis Stookey preceded him in death. Also two
sisters,Mrs.Mary Randle and Mrs.Florence Lutz both of Decatur.

He
was the son of Daniel and Carole Stookey who settled in Haristown during the
Civil war. Their farm home became his property and is at the present time
occupied by his son.

The
body will arrive from San Diego Monday and will be taken to the Dawson &
Wikoff funeral home to be removed to the family home Tuesday morning.

Funeral
services will be conducted in the Harristown Methodist church at 3 pm Tuesday.
Burial will be in the Harristown cemetery.

[Source: Decatur Daily Review; Decatur, IL; 28 May 1933]

Published biography of Lewis Stookey and family:Lewis Stookey,
a representative of the fourth generation of the family in Illinois, is
prominently identified with the farming interests of Macon county and is known
as one of its most capable and enterprising citizens. He is the owner of one of
the most valuable farms of Harristown township, where he carries on general
farming and is also greatly interested in the breeding of shorthorn cattle, his
pure-bred herd having a reputation of containing some of the finest specimens
of the kind in the state. Mr. Stookey is a practical man and his success has
been due to the application of sound judgement in all departments of his
business.

He
was born in St. Clair county, October 20, 1848, and is a son of Daniel and
Caroline (Goodner) Stookey. The father was also born in St. Clair county, the
great-grandfather of our subject, Daniel Stookey, locating there in 1802, therefore
being one of the very earliest settlers of Illinois. The family came from
Virginia, although Daniel Stookey was a native of Maryland, in which state he
was born before the Revolutionary war, in March, 1773. His wife, who before her
marriage was Barbara Whetstone, was born in Virginia, April 20, 1774. They were
married March 16, 1797, and their eldest son, Simon, was born in Virginia,
January 6, 1798. This son was the grandfather of our subject and came with the
family to St. Clair county. He and his father were pioneer farmers and they
took up land from the government in that county, some of which is still in
possession of the family. Daniel Stookey, the father, was born March 6, 1820,
while his wife was born June 26, 1825, in St. Clair county, and there they were
married December 4, 1845. He was a farmer and sawmill owner. In 1855, ten years
after his marriage, he sold out and removed to Bloomington, Illinois, becoming
interested in the manufacture of Pennock’s wheat drills, but the call of the farm
drew him back to the soil and after a few years he came to Harristown township,
Macon county, where he had acquired forty acres of land and also owned one
hundred and sixty acres in Illini township. Later he became the owner of three
hundred and twenty acres where the family homestead is now located. This land
at the time of his purchase was wild prairie, with no trees or fences, and upon
it there stood a small cabin one and one-half stories high, which was propped
up so that it could not be blown down by the wind. The prospect was not very
alluring but Daniel Stookey builded wiser perhaps than he knew and became one
of the wealthy landowners of the county and one of its most esteemed citizens.
To him and his wife there were born seven children: Adaline, who died in
childhood; Lewis, our subject; Cornelius, deceased; Daniel W., who married
Angie Dunnuck and lives at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he being a manufacturer of drain
tile; Mary Caroline, now the wife of Rev. E. B. Randle, of Springfield; W.
James, who died at nineteen years; and Florence H., the wife of S.M. Lutz, of
Decatur.

In
1872 Daniel Stookey built a good brick house from brick burned under his own
supervision, one of the first houses of the kind in this region. The residence
was remodeled n 1906 by Lewis Stookey, a hot water plant and acetylene gas
apparatus being installed. In 1909 a commodious porch was added, the building
now being one of the most pleasing landmarks in the township. Daniel Stookey
was a member of the Baptist church of Decatur, and he was an active supporter
of that denomination. He was reared in the democratic party but at the time of
the war was a patriotic Union man and from that time forward voted the
republican ticket. He served in several minor public offices in the township but
he was essentially a man of business and not a seeker for political honors. He
was a man of wide influence and worthily did he perform his part in assisting
toward the growth and prosperity of the county with which he was long closely
identified.

Lewis
Stookey was fifteen years of age when his parents took up their residence in
Harristown township. He received his early education in the country schools and
later became a student at Shurtleff College, where he continued for three
years. Returning to the farm, he devoted his attention to its interests,
locating for a time on the farm in Illini township, of which he later became
owner. In 1893 he removed to the old homestead and he is now the owner of four
hundred and forty acres, most of it in the home farm. Mr. Stookey has shown
good judgment in his farming operations and the results are to be seen in the
orderly arrangement of the buildings, the modern farm appliances and the
up-to-date condition of everything about the farm. It is hardly necessary to
say that he has been greatly blessed in his operations.

On
September 11, 1879, Mr. Stookey was married in Illini township to Miss Leona
Childs, a native of Sangamon county, born February 26, 1856, and a daughter of
John S. and Catherine (Brown) Childs. Her father was a native of New Jersey and
grew to manhood there, coming to Illinois and living for a time at Galena and
Springfield, where he followed the occupation of carpentering. His wife was
born in Sangamon county, where her father was engaged in farming. He came to
Macon county and acquired land in Illini township. He was of English Quaker
ancestry. The American ancestors of the family have been traced of James
Childs, born in 1697. John S. Childs acquired six hundred and forty acres of
land in this county. He was called to reward May 10, 19905, and his beloved
wife departed this life October 23, 1909. He was identified with the democratic
party for many years but in 1896 he changed his allegiance and voted for Mr.
McKinley. He was a man greatly esteemed by his neighbors and held at various
times all the important township offices, being for a number of years
supervisor and displaying a cool judgment in public and private affairs that
always reflected upon him and those with whom he was associated the highest credit.

Three
children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stookey. Marshall, who was
graduated from the school of civil engineering of the University of Illinois in
1907, entered the engineering department of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad Company at Chicago and later assisted in overseeing construction work
on the line. He is now at home assisting his father upon the farm. Helen S. is
also a graduate of the University of Illinois, receiving the degree of A.B. in
1904. On June 15, 1907, she was married to Nathan Wilkinson, of Emporia,
Kansas, who is an electric engineer and is connected with the Allis-Chalmers
Company, now making his headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Two children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkison: Helen Jean, born October 29, 1908; and
Nathan III, February 13, 1910. The third child of Mr. and Mrs. Stookey was
named Annis and departed this life at the age of two years, August 6, 1885.

Mr.
Stookey cast his first presidential ballot in 1872 for U.S. Grant for president
of the United States and has ever since continued a stanch republican. He has
never aspired to political honors but has served with great acceptance as
school trustee. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church
at Harristown, of which Mr. Stookey is steward and has acted as Sunday school
superintendent and in other capacities. He has found in his wife one who has
been, indeed, to her husband a helpmeet and to the community a blessing, whose
influence for good has increased with the passage of years. As a man of mark,
Mr. Stookey’s advice is often sought by his friends in business and other
affairs and when it is followed the result is almost invariably satisfactory.
He has gained recognition as a reliable breeder of live stock and his reputation
is not confined to Macon county. He has always had an inclination to
agricultural pursuits and to this has been added lifelong habits of application
to agricultural pursuits and an integrity which has never been questioned. It
is plain that no record of Macon county would be complete without proper
mention of the subject of this sketch and his worthy ancestry.

[Source:
City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement, vol. 2 by Hon. William E. Nelson]

[Note: Timothy S. Childs is misreported, but this is clearly his household.]

Dr.
T.S. Childs of San Diego published "Embouchure" in the Dental Review: Devoted to the Advancement of Dentistry in 1916.

In
1917, David O. Dryden completed an American Arts and Crafts home for T.S.
Childs and wife Carlotta, located at 3412 28th street. That area has
been designated the North Park Dryden Historical District.

9
Jan 1920, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA:

3412
Oregon St

224-230

Childs,
Timothy S. Head M W 54 M b. IL fb. NJ mb. KY dentist

----Carletta
Wife F W 50 M b. IL fb. OH mb. OH

----Agnes
E. F W 24 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL stenographer

----John
K. Son M W 22 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL cellist

----Russell
H. Son M W 18 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL salesman

----Robert
H. Son M W 15 S b. IL fb. IL mb. IL

Published Biography of Timothy S.Childs:

Timothy
S. Childs, D.D.S.

Dentistry may be said to be almost
unique among other occupations, as it is at once a profession, a trade and a
business. Such being the case, it follows that in order to attain the highest
success in it one must be thoroughly conversant with the theory of the art,
must be expert with the many tools and appliances incidental to the practice of
modern dentistry and must possess business qualifications adequate to dealing
with the financial side of the profession. In all these particulars Dr. Childs
is well qualified and therefore has attained prestige among the able
representatives of dentistry in Decatur.

A native son of Macon county, he was
born in Mini township in 1865, one of the eight children of Mr. and Mrs. John
S. Childs. The father died in 1905 and the mother in 1909. He had been a
lifelong farmer and owned a section of land in Mini township. His success
enabled him to provide well for his children and his widow and at her death the
part of the estate which she had inherited was divided among their sons and
daughters. As his share Dr. Childs received eighty acres of choice land near
Warrensburg. He was reared to farm life with the usual experiences that fall to
the lot of the farm boy who does the chores and aids in the work of early
planting and gathering harvest in the autumn. Good educational privileges,
however, were accorded him. After attending the district schools he spent one
year in the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington and was graduated from the
Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. Subsequently he matriculated in
the University of Michigan for professional training and was graduated from the
dental department with the class of 1892, at which time he won his degree.
Following his graduation he returned to Macon county and opened a dental parlor
in Decatur, where in the intervening period of nineteen years he has built up
an extensive practice. He has always kept in touch with the progress of the
profession in he methods of practice and in the inventions which facilitate the
work of the operating room. He belongs to the Macon County Dental Society and
his close conformity to the strict ethics of the profession has won him the
high regard of his fellow practitioners.

Dr. Childs was married in 1894 to
Miss Carletta Hane and they have become parents of a daughter and three sons:
Agnes, John, Russell, and Robert. Dr. and Mrs. Childs have a wide acquaintance
in Decatur and are favorably received into the best social circles of the city.
He is also prominent in musical circles, having for a number of years been a
member of the Goodman Band and historian of that organization. He has been the
cornet soloist and is still identified with the band, his musical talents
contributing in no small measure to the high reputation of the organization.

[Source:
City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement by Hon. William E. Nelson]

Obituary of Dr. Timothy S. Childs:

Dr. Timothy S. Childs Dies In West

Born Near Warrenburg and Lived in County Until Six Years Ago

Timothy S. Childs died in his home in San Diego, Cal., Wednesday after a long period of ill health, suffering from tuberculosis, which about six years ago impelled him to leave Decatur, seeking a climate which he hoped would assist him in regaining health. Born near Warrensburg. Childs was born on a farm near Warrensburg and until he went to California, his home had always been in Macon County, where he practiced his profession as a dentist. He was an accomplished musician, a member of Goodman band, and found much enjoyment in his music aside from the professional field in which he sometimes ventured. Same to all men with thos who had opportunity to become acquainted with him personally, he was ever popular, for his uniform kindness, his consideration for others, was on the most outstanding characteristics of the man and there were no ? he was the same to all men. His wife, who was Carletta, daughter of Jeremiah C. and Viola C. Hane, four children survive him. Also he leaves two sisters: Misses Edna and Harriet Childs of Los Angeles, two brothers, Dr. C.F. Childs of La Place, and John D. Childs of Arkansas.

Russell
Childs, nephew of Miss Edna and Miss Harriet Child, 95? West Williams street,
arrived in Decatur Sunday for a visit of three days, during which he found time
to tell a number of friends of his experiences in Old Mexico the last three
years. Mr. Childs is a son of Mrs. T.S. Childs, now of San Diego, Calif. He has
not been in Decatur for 20 years and he found the site of the old Childs home
now the location of the new Masonic temple. Mr. Childs is a superintendent for
the Royal Dutch Shell company, the English oil company that has branches
scattered over Mexico. He has been at Mexico City and vicinity for three years,
and his present trip, which takes him to Chicago for business, is his first
vacation. He will return for another three years, this time at Tampico. Mr.
Childs had 40 Mexicans a number of Englishmen working under him at Mexico City.
All products of his company are shipped to England. Mr. Childs left Tuesday
evening for Chicago and will return to Mexico from there.

[Source:
The Decatur Herald; Decatur, IL; 11 April 1934]

Obituary for Carletta (Hane) Childs:

Mrs.
T.S. Childs Dies in California

Funeral
services were held yesterday in San Diego, Calif., for Mrs. T.S. Childs, former
Decatur resident, who died in California Tuesday after a long illness. She was
the wife of the late Dr. Childs, former Decatur dentist and member of a
prominent family here. The couple was married in December, 1894, and moved to
California in 1913. Mrs. Childs leaves a daughter Agnes Childs, at home, and
three sons.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Annis R. Childs, daughter of John S. Childs and Catherine F. Brown, was born 20 October 1867 and died 10 June 1925. She is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Sterling, Logan County, Colorado. She married Howard Mayo Batchelder on 13 Sept. 1888 in Decatur, Illinois. He was born 23 July 1863 and died 11 March 1953. He is also buried in Riverside Cemetery.

Matrimonal

Bachelder-Childs

Decatur,
Ill, Sept. 13—Miss Annie Childs, daughter of John S. Childs, and Mr. Howard M.
Bachelder were married this evening in the presence of 100 guests. Mary
Bachelder and T. Childs were attendants.

[Source:
Daily Inter Ocean; Chicago, IL; Fri. 14 Sept 1888]

Mrs.
Howard M. Batchelder is being entertained by Mrs. J.S. Childs in Decatur.

Howard Mayo Batchelder, born July 23, 1863, Harristown, Ill.; m. Sept. 13, 1888, Annis R. Childs. His father, John J. Batchelder, was a farmer. Howard attended school at Bloomfield, Ia., and graduated there. He then helped his father on the farm. In 1888, he married Annis Childs and they farmed for one year. In the fall of 1889, he went to Toronto, Canada, to a Veterinary College. He graduated there in 1891. He settled in Springfield, Ill., and is practicing his profession. Res. Springfield, Ill. Children:

Leona Melinda b. Oct. 3, 1890

Mary Kathryn b. June 4, 1893

[Source: Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy: Descendants of Rev. Stephen Bachiler, of England, a Leading Non-Conformist, Who Settled the Town of New Hampton, NH, and Joseph, Henry, Joshua, and John Batcheller of Essex Co., Mass. by Frederick Clifton Pierce, 1898]

Mrs.
H.M. Batchelder and daughters, Linda and Halycon of Sterling, Colorado are the
guests of Mrs. Lewis Stookey.

[Source:
The Daily Review; Decatur, IL; Mon. 13 Oct 1913]

Harristown:

24
& 26 January 1920, Sterling City, Logan Co., CO:

413
Main Street

98-104

Batchelder,
H.M. Head M W 56 M b. IL fb. US mb. US farmer

----Annis
Wife F W 52 M b. IL fb. NJ mb. IL

----Halycon
Dau F W 9 S b. CO fb. IL mb. IL

Obituary of Howard M. Batchelder:

Howard
Batchelder, 89, Former Resident Dies

Howard
M. Batchelder, 89, died Wednesdy in Arlington, VA, where he had lived severl
years, according to word received by a sister, Mrs. Joseph Tucker, Warrensburg.
Batchelder was born in Harristown July 23, 1863, a son of John J. and Melinda
Green Batchelder. The family later moved to Illini Township where he attended
Batchelder School. He was married to Annis Childs, a sister of Miss Harriett
and Miss Edna Childs of Decatur. She died in 1925. Mr. and Mrs. Batchelder
lived many years in Sterling, Colo. Batchelder leaves three daughters, Mrs. Robert
O’Brien, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Mrs. George McConley and Miss Halcyon
Batchelder, both of Arlington, VA. There are five grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be Saturday in Sterling, Colo.

James Junius Galt, son of Thomas and Sarah (Happer) Galt, was born
28 Sep 1835 in Sangamon Co., IL. In Oct
1857 he married Mary Ann Brown, daughter of Resin D. and Rachel (Earnest)
Brown. She was born 7 May 1838 and died 4 Sep 1911. She is buried in Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton
City, St. Clair Co., Missouri. James Junius Galt died on 3 Nov 1923 in Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton
City, St. Clair Co., Missouri.

Children of James Junius and Mary Ann (Brown) Galt:

1. Sarah Rachel Galt b. 30 Jul 1856 in
Farmingdale, Sangamon Co., IL.

2. Thomas Resin Galt b. 7 Feb 1860 in
Springfield, Sangamon Co., IL.

3. Mary Isabella Galt b. IL

4. Susanna Brown Galt b. IL

5. Minnie Margaret Galt b. IL6. Charlotte Adele Galt b. Neb

7. Clara Ann Galt b. Neb

8. James Martin Galt

9. Jeanette Happer Galt b. Neb

10. Georgia Galt b. MO

Children of James Junius Galt from a compiled genealogy by Thomas
Alexander Galt:

Delayed
birth certificate of Bernice Margaret Happer. Affidavit of Harriet H. Bagley,
age 60, resident of Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. Has known her for 39 years.
Bernice Margaret Happer born 7 March 1899 in West Liberty, Iowa. Father: John
Gardner Happer, resident of West Liberyt age 52, retired farmer. Mother: Annie Elimira
Young of West Liberty, age 31. Harriet was at home on vacation. Father Happer
sent her after the doctor and nurse. She is the half-sister.

Charlotte
Ray, daughter of Charlotte (Brown) and Thomas B. Ray, married Samuel H. Cotton
on 13 December 1887 in Appleton County, Missouri. She was born 25 December 1865
in Springfield, Sangamon County, IL, and died 1 February 1951 in Kansas City,
Jackson County, Missouri. She is buried in the Grandview Cemetery in Albany,
Gentry County, Missouri.

THOMAS
B. [RAY], born March 10, 1841, married Feb. 23, 1865, to Charlotte Brown. They
had one child, CHARLOTTE, who lives with her grandfather, Rezin D. Brown. Mrs.
Ray died, Jan. 5, 1866, and T.B. Ray lives at the homestead settled by his
father in 1825, in Gardner township, Sangamon county, Illinois.

[Source:
History of the Early Settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois, by John Carroll
Power]

Thomas
B. Ray, farmer and proprietor of coal bank in section 10, is numbered among the
leading men of Howard Township. He is the son of Thomas and Susannah Ray,
Kentuckians by birth, but who settled in Illinois at an early day. Thomas B.
was born in Sangamon County, of that state, in1841, and there he grew up and
was educated. In 1871 he came to Bates County, Missouri. Upon first starting
out in life for himself he followed farming as his occupation, and though then
without means, he has succeeded in accumulating a well improved farm, underneath
which is a vein of coal some thirty-three inches in thickness that will compare
favorably with any in the vicinity. He was married, February 23, 1864, to Miss
Charlotte Brown, who was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1840. Her
parents were R.D. and Rachel (Earnest) Brown. She died on January 5, 1865,
leaving one daughter, Charlotte B. Mr. Ray is a Master Mason.

[Source:
The History of Cass and Bates Counties, Missouri: Containing a History of These
Three Counties, Their Cities, Towns, etc, Biographical Sketches of Their
Citizens, General and Local Statistics… by National Historical Company, 1883]

Charlotte
(Brown) Ray, born 20 December 1839 in Sangaon County, IL, died 5 Jan 1866 in
Sangamon County, IL. She is buried in the King Cemetery in New Berlin, Sangamon
Co., IL.

About Me

My favorite memories from childhood include visits to my grandparents in East Texas. At dusk we'd run around my grandparent's yard, catching fireflies and putting them in jelly jars. When darkness descended, we'd return to the porch. It was a special treat to sit in the porch swing. Inevitably, the adults would launch into family stories of Pink Kelley's brush with Sherman's troops, of Great Uncle Hood Brown's tragic death, and of the Kelley family's wagon trip to Texas, among many others. The stars on those nights were magical.

I began my genealogy research in the summer of 1975, less than a month after my high school graduation. When I married in 1983, I started researching my husband's family as well. I was fortunate to start this hobby as a youngster because it gave me an opportunity to correspond with researchers who are long gone; to ask questions of family members -although not enough, never enough; and travel a bit. The result is a lot of information. I've come to the realization that I will probably never be able to afford to publish, so this is my publication.

This blog contains a mixture of information on my husband's family and mine. I've expanded into a second blog called Flimsies and Frippery with the intention of focusing on quilts and dolls, but I have several historical research entries there with more planned, which is why I don't get more quilting done.

Ultimately, genealogy is my passion. This is where I plan to record family stories, research adventures and misadventures, and those serendipitous moments that happen out of the blue. You should be warned that I have a bad habit of going back and adding information and links to individual entries, so it is beneficial to check back often if there is a family of particular interest to you. If you wander in and discover that you are a cousin, please contact me.

Since many younger family members who are new to genealogy are starting to contact me about their ancestors, I've started adding family trees to help them see how everyone is connected. The trees are divided between my family and my husband's. You will find them below under the label's Family Trees - My Husband's Side and Family Trees - My Family's Side.

Porch Swing...

House built by my grandfather, Willie Sargent Chapman. The new owners put a porch swing in the spot where the original hung.